United Kingdom Leading Case psychiatric injurysecondary victimsnervous shock

Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police

[1991] UKHL 5; [1992] 1 AC 310

JurisdictionUnited Kingdom

CourtHouse of Lords

Year1992

StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

A secondary victim may recover for negligently inflicted psychiatric injury only if proximate in relationship, time/space and means of perception to the shocking event, and a person of normal fortitude would foreseeably suffer such harm.

Area of Law

Tort & Negligence

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